Device and method for organizing materials in a vehicle

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device and method for organizing paper-like materials in a vehicle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device and method for organizingpaper-like materials in a vehicle. The method includes affixing a boardto the interior of a vehicle and removably attaching paper-likematerials to the board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people spend a lot of time in their vehicles, whether for businessor leisure. There are a variety of paper-like products that shouldlogically be stored in a vehicle, such as directions, tickets, receipts,notes, coupons, business cards, store ads, and newspaper ads. A typicalvehicle has no mechanism in place to store and/or organize thesepaper-like products. Often, these paper-like products end up strewn invarious locations throughout the vehicle, such as the back seat, theconsole, the floor, the glove box, the door pockets, under the visor,etc. If an item is needed, the driver may not know where it is and maynot be able to locate it quickly or safely. There is a need for a methodof organizing such paper-like products in one location where they arequickly and easily viewed and accessed by the driver of a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of a method and a device for organizingpaper-like materials in a vehicle. The device includes a board which iscapable of being affixed to the interior of the vehicle and fastenersthat are capable of removably fastening the paper-like products to theboard. The method consists of affixing the board to the interior of avehicle and removably attaching the paper-like materials to the board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention affixed to thedashboard of a vehicle.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b illustrate embodiments of the invention where theboard is made of cork and has pushpins.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the board ismade of plastic and has clips.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the board isshaped like a car.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the board isdivided into 6 equal compartments.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the board isdivided into 5 unequal compartments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the board isdivided into 6 compartments corresponding to various parts of the car.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b illustrate embodiments of the invention where thecompartments are labeled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For ease of description, a device incorporating this invention isdescribed in the normal (upright) operating (use) position, and termssuch as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., are used with reference to thisposition. It is understood, however, that a device incorporating thisinvention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in anorientation other than the position described. Figures illustrating thedevice show some elements that are known and that will be recognized byone skilled in the art. Detailed descriptions of such elements are notnecessary to an understanding of the invention, and accordingly, areherein presented only to the degree necessary to facilitate anunderstanding of the novel features of the present invention.

The invention includes a device for organizing paper-like materials in avehicle. The device may include a board capable of being affixed to theinterior of the vehicle and fasteners capable of removably fastening thepaper-like products to the board.

The board may be affixed anywhere inside the vehicle. In one embodiment,the board may be affixed to the interior of the vehicle so that it canbe easily viewed by the driver of the vehicle. In another embodiment ofthe invention, the board may be affixed to the interior of the vehicleso that it can be easily reached by the driver of the vehicle. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, the board may be affixed to theinterior of the vehicle so that it can be both easily viewed and easilyreached by the driver of the vehicle. In a most preferred embodiment, asshown in FIG. 1, the board is affixed to the dashboard of the vehicle.

As used herein, paper-like materials may be any materials capable ofbeing fastened to the board and may include, but are not limited to,materials made out of paper, cardboard, cardstock, and lightweightplastic. Examples of possible paper-like materials include, but are notlimited to, business cards, receipts, tickets, notes, maps, directions,labels, matchbooks, paper mementos, coupons, store ads, and newspaperads.

The board may be affixed to the interior of the vehicle by any mechanismcapable of affixing such a board to the interior of a vehicle. Exampleof possible mechanisms include, but are not limited to, Velcro®,industrial strength Velcro®, adhesive, adhesive tape, bolts, rivets,screws and any combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the boardis affixed to the interior of the vehicle with Velcro®.

The board may be made from any material capable of being affixed to theinterior of a vehicle and holding the paper-like products. Examples ofpossible materials from which the board can be made include, but are notlimited to, cork, plastic, acrylic, aluminum, hardboard, fiberboard,cardboard, sisal, wood, and any combination thereof. In a preferredembodiment, the board is made from cork. FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show examplesof a board of the present invention made from cork. FIG. 3 shows anexample of a board of the present invention made from plastic.

The fasteners can be any fasteners capable of fastening paper-likeproducts to the board. Examples of possible fasteners may include, butare not limited to, tacks, pushpins, clips, temporary adhesive (such asPost-it® notes), tape, and any combination thereof. In a preferredembodiment, the fasteners are pushpins. The type of fasteners used willdepend to some degree on the material from which the board is made. Forexample, if the board is made from cork or sisal, then the mostappropriate fastener may be tacks or pushpins or a combination of both.FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show examples of a board made of cork and havingpushpins. If the board is made from a hard material, such as plastic,hardboard, acrylic, or wood, then the most appropriate fasteners may beclips (such as pressure sensitive metal clips). FIG. 3 shows an exampleof a board made of plastic and having pressure sensitive metal clips. Ina preferred embodiment the board is made of cork and the fastenersinclude tacks and pushpins.

In the embodiment in which clips are used as fasteners, the clips may becoupled to the board by any coupler capable of coupling clips to a boardof the invention. Examples include, but are not limited to adhesivetape, snaps, Velcro®, glue, rivets, bolts, and any combination thereof.In one embodiment the clips are removable from the board. In anotherembodiment, the clips are permanently fixed to the board.

The board may have any shape. Examples of possible shapes include, butare not limited to a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a circle, asimulation of another object, or a whimsical shape. FIGS. 2 and 3 showexamples of a rectangle. An example of a simulation of another objectincludes, but is not limited to, a simulation of an automobile. Examplesof simulations of automobiles include, but are not limited to, theshapes of various types of cars, station wagons, concept cars, SUVs, andtrucks. FIG. 4 shows an example of a simulation of a car.

The board may contain a single surface for fastening paper-like products(see FIGS. 1-4) or, in a preferred embodiment, the surface may bedivided into two or more compartments. In one embodiment, as shown inFIG. 5, the compartments may be similarly sized and shaped. In anotherembodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, two or more of the compartments may bedifferently sized and/or differently shaped. In still anotherembodiment, which may occur when the board is a simulation of anotherobject, the compartments may correspond to various part of the simulatedobject. FIG. 7 shows an example of a board in the shape of a car wherethe various parts of the car are different compartments.

In one embodiment, the various compartments are similarly colored. In apreferred embodiment, two or more of the various compartments areuniquely colored. In one embodiment, one or more of the variouscompartments are labeled. Examples of possible labels include, but arenot limited to, “Shopping List,” “Driving Directions,” “Receipts,”“Appointments,” “Business Cards,” “Notes,” “Tickets,” “Cards,”“Reminders,” “coupons,” “A.M.,” “P.M.,” “Week,” “Weekend,” days of theweek (for example “Monday,” “Tuesday,” “Wednesday,” “Thursday,”“Friday,” “Saturday,” “Sunday,” “Weekdays” “Weekend,” etc.), numerals(for example, “1,” “2,” “3,” “4,” “5,” etc.), “Breakfast,” “Lunch,”“Dinner,” “Pick Up,” “Call,” “Meet,” “Buy,” “Do,” “Don't Forget!,”“Kids,” “Work,” and “Sports.” In a preferred embodiment, the board isdivided into six uniquely colored, uniquely labeled, compartments. FIG.8 a shows an example of the invention in a triangular shape divided intosix uniquely labeled compartments. FIG. 8 b shows an example of theinvention in the shape of a car with 6 uniquely labeled compartments,corresponding to the various parts of the car.

The invention also includes a method of organizing paper-like materialsin a vehicle. The method includes affixing a board to the interior ofthe vehicle and removably attaching the paper-like materials to theboard.

The board may be affixed anywhere inside the vehicle. In one embodiment,the board may be affixed to the interior of the vehicle so that it canbe easily viewed by the driver of the vehicle. In another embodiment ofthe invention, the board may be affixed to the interior of the vehicleso that it can be easily reached by the driver of the vehicle. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, the board may be affixed to theinterior of the vehicle so that it can be both easily viewed and easilyreached by the driver of the vehicle. In a most preferred embodiment, asshown in FIG. 1, the board is affixed to the dashboard of the vehicle.

As used herein, paper-like materials may be any materials capable ofbeing fastened to the board and may include, but are not limited to,materials made out of paper, cardboard, cardstock, and lightweightplastic. Examples of possible paper-like materials include, but are notlimited to, business cards, receipts, tickets, notes, maps, directions,labels, matchbooks, paper mementos, coupons, store ads, and newspaperads.

The board may be affixed to the interior of the vehicle by any mechanismcapable of affixing such a board to the interior of a vehicle. Exampleof possible mechanisms include, but are not limited to, Velcro®,industrial strength Velcro®, adhesive, adhesive tape, bolts, rivets,screws and any combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the boardis affixed to the interior of the vehicle with Velcro®.

The board may be made from any material capable of being affixed to theinterior of a vehicle and holding the paper-like products. Examples ofpossible materials from which the board can be made include, but are notlimited to, cork, plastic, acrylic, aluminum, hardboard, fiberboard,cardboard, sisal, wood, and any combination thereof. In a preferredembodiment, the board is made from cork. FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show anexample of a board of the present invention made from cork. FIG. 3 showsan example of a board made from plastic.

The paper-like products are removably fastened to the board by anyfastener capable of fastening paper-like products to the board. Examplesof possible fasteners may include, but are not limited to, tacks,pushpins, clips, temporary adhesive (such as Post-it® notes), tape, andany combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners arepushpins. The type of fasteners used will depend to some degree on thematerial from which the board is made. For example, if the board is madefrom cork or sisal, then the most appropriate fastener may be tacks orpushpins or a combination of both. FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show examples of aboard made of cork and having pushpins. If the board is made from a hardmaterial, such as plastic, hardboard, acrylic, or wood, then the mostappropriate fasteners may be clips (such as pressure sensitive metalclips). FIG. 3 shows an example of a board made of plastic and havingpressure sensitive metal clips. In a preferred embodiment the board ismade of cork and the fasteners include tacks and pushpins.

In the embodiment in which clips are used as fasteners, the clips may becoupled to the board by any coupler capable of coupling clips to a boardof the invention. Examples include, but are not limited to adhesivetape, snaps, Velcro®, glue, rivets, bolts, and any combination thereof.In one embodiment the clips are removable from the board. In anotherembodiment, the clips are permanently fixed to the board.

The board may have any shape. Examples of possible shapes include, butare not limited to a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a circle, asimulation of another object, or a whimsical shape. FIGS. 2 and 3 showexamples of a rectangle. An example of a simulation of another objectincludes, but is not limited to, a simulation of an automobile. Examplesof simulations of automobiles include, but are not limited to, theshapes of various types of cars, station wagons, concept cars, SUVs, andtrucks. FIG. 4 shows an example of a simulation of a car.

The board may contain a single surface for fastening paper-like products(see FIGS. 1-4) or, in a preferred embodiment, the surface may bedivided into two or more compartments. In one embodiment, as shown inFIG. 5, the compartments may be similarly sized and shaped. In anotherembodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, two or more of the compartments may bedifferently sized and/or differently shaped. In still anotherembodiment, which may occur when the board is a simulation of anotherobject, the compartments may correspond to various part of the simulatedobject. FIG. 7 shows an example of a board in the shape of a car wherethe various parts of the car are different compartments.

In one embodiment, the various compartments are similarly colored. In apreferred embodiment, two or more of the various compartments areuniquely colored. In one embodiment, one or more of the variouscompartments are labeled. Examples of possible labels include, but arenot limited to, “Shopping List,” “Driving Directions,” “Receipts,”“Appointments,” “Business Cards,” “Notes,” “Tickets,” “Cards,”“Reminders,” “coupons,” “A.M.,” “P.M.,” “Week,” “Weekend,” days of theweek (for example “Monday,” “Tuesday,” “Wednesday,” “Thursday,”“Friday,” “Saturday,” “Sunday,” “Weekdays” “Weekend,” etc.), numerals(for example, “1,” “2,” “3,” “4,” 5,” etc.), “Breakfast,” “Lunch,”“Dinner,” “Pick Up,” “Call,” “Meet,” “Buy,” “Do,” “Don't Forget!,”“Kids,” “Work,” and “Sports.” In a preferred embodiment, the board isdivided into six uniquely colored, uniquely labeled, compartments. FIG.8 a shows an example of the invention in a triangular shape divided intosix uniquely labeled compartments. FIG. 8 b shows an example of theinvention in the shape of a car with 6 uniquely labeled compartments,corresponding to the various parts of the car.

1. A device for organizing paper-like materials in a vehicle comprising:(a) a board capable of being affixed to the interior of said vehicle;and (b) fasteners capable of removably fastening said paper-likematerials to said board.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said board isaffixed to the interior of said vehicle so that it can be easily viewedby the driver of said vehicle.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein saidboard is affixed to the interior of said vehicle so that it can beeasily reached by the driver of said vehicle.
 4. The device of claim 1,wherein said board is affixed to the dashboard of said vehicle.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said paper-like materials are selected fromthe group consisting of business cards, receipts, tickets, notes, maps,directions, labels, matchbooks, paper mementos, coupons, store ads, andnewspaper ads.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said board is made of amaterial selected from the group consisting of cork, plastic, acrylic,aluminum, hardboard, fiberboard, cardboard, sisal and wood.
 7. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said board is affixed to the interior of saidvehicle with a mechanism selected from the group consisting of Velcro®,industrial strength Velcro®, adhesive, adhesive tape, bolts, rivets andscrews.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said fasteners are selectedfrom the group consisting of tacks, pushpins, clips, temporary adhesive,and tape.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein said clips are attached tosaid board by a coupler selected from the group consisting of adhesivetape, snaps, Velcro®, glue, rivets, and bolts.
 10. The device of claim8, wherein said clips are pressure sensitive.
 11. The device of claim 1,wherein the shape of said board is selected from the group consisting ofa rectangle, a square, a triangle, a circle, a whimsical shape, and theshape of an automobile.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein said boardis divided into two or more compartments.
 13. The device of claim 12,wherein said compartments correspond to parts of said automobile. 14.The device of claim 12, wherein said compartments are unique colors. 15.The device of claim 12, wherein said compartments contain labels. 16.The device of claim 15, wherein said labels are selected from the groupconsisting of shopping list, driving directions, receipts, appointments,business cards, notes, tickets, cards, reminders, coupons, A.M., P.M.,Weekday, Weekend, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,Saturday, Sunday, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Breakfast, Lunch,Dinner, Pick Up, Call, Meet, Buy, Do, Don't Forget!, Kids, Work, andSports.
 17. A method of organizing paper-like materials in a vehiclecomprising: (a) affixing a board to the interior of said vehicle; and(b) removably fastening said paper-like materials to said board.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein said affixing occurs at a location thatallows said board to be easily viewed by the driver of said vehicle. 19.The method of claim 17, wherein said affixing occurs at a location thatallows said board to be easily reached by the driver of said vehicle.20. The method of claim 17, wherein said affixing occurs on thedashboard of said vehicle.
 21. The method of claim 17, wherein saidpaper-like materials are selected from the group consisting of businesscards, receipts, tickets, notes, maps, directions, labels, matchbooks,paper mementos, coupons, store ads, and newspaper ads.
 22. The method ofclaim 17, wherein said board is made of a material selected from thegroup consisting of cork, plastic, acrylic, aluminum, hardboard,fiberboard, cardboard, sisal, and wood.
 23. The method of claim 17,wherein said affixing is accomplished with Velcro®, industrial strengthVelcro®, adhesive, adhesive tape, bolts, rivets and screws.
 24. Themethod of claim 17, wherein said fastening is accomplished withfasteners selected from the group consisting of tacks, pushpins, clips,temporary adhesive, and tape.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein saidclips are attached to said board by a coupler selected from the groupconsisting of adhesive tape, snaps, Velcro®, glue, rivets and bolts. 26.The method of claim 24, wherein said clips are pressure sensitive. 27.The method of claim 17, wherein the shape of said board is selected fromthe group consisting of a rectangle, a square, a triangle, a circle, awhimsical shape, and the shape of an automobile.
 28. The method of claim27, wherein said board is divided into two or more compartments.
 29. Themethod of claim 28, wherein said compartments correspond to parts ofsaid automobile.
 30. The method of claim 28, wherein said compartmentsare unique colors.
 31. The method of claim 28, wherein said compartmentsare labeled.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein said labels areselected from the group consisting of shopping list, driving directions,receipts, appointments, business cards, notes, tickets, cards reminders,coupons, A.M., P.M., Weekday, Weekend, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Pick Up, Call, Meet, Buy, Do, Don't Forget!,Kids, Work, and Sports.
 33. A method of using a board for organizingpaper-like materials in a vehicle, comprising: (a) affixing said boardto the interior of said vehicle, (b) removably fastening said paper-likeproducts to said board.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein saidinterior is easily viewed by the driver of said vehicle.
 35. The methodof claim 33, wherein said interior is easily reached by the driver ofsaid vehicle.
 36. The method of claim 33, wherein said interior is thedashboard of said vehicle.
 37. The method of claim 33, wherein saidpaper-like materials are selected from the group consisting of businesscards, receipts, tickets, notes, maps, directions, labels, matchbooks,paper mementos, coupons, store ads, and newspaper ads.
 38. The method ofclaim 33, wherein said board is made of a material selected from thegroup consisting of cork, plastic, acrylic, aluminum, hardboard,fiberboard, cardboard, sisal, and wood.
 39. The method of claim 33,wherein said affixing is accomplished with the use of a mechanismselected from the group consisting of Velcro®, industrial strengthVelcro®, adhesive, adhesive tape, bolts, rivets and screws.
 40. Themethod of claim 33, wherein said removably fastening is accomplishedwith fasteners selected from the group consisting of tacks, pushpins,clips, temporary adhesive, and tape.
 41. The method of claim 40, whereinsaid clips are attached to said board by a coupler selected from thegroup consisting of adhesive tape, snaps, Velcro®, glue, rivets andbolts.
 42. The method of claim 40, wherein said clips are pressuresensitive.
 43. The method of claim 33, wherein the shape of said boardis selected from the group consisting of a rectangle, a square, atriangle, a circle, a whimsical shape, and the shape of a automobile.44. The method of claim 43, wherein said board is divided into two ormore compartments.
 45. The method of claim 44, wherein said compartmentscorrespond to parts of said automobile.
 46. The method of claim 44,wherein said compartments are unique color.
 47. The method of claim 44,wherein said compartments are labeled.
 48. The method of claim 47,wherein said labels are selected from the group consisting of shoppinglist, driving directions, receipts, appointments, business cards, notes,tickets, cards reminders coupons, A.M., P.M., Weekday, Weekend, Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Pick Up, Call, Meet, Buy, Do,Don't Forget!, Kids, Work, and Sports.